Manual transporation of articles

ABSTRACT

A garment transportation and storage device comprises a support rod at the bottom, a hook at the top, and a ball-shaped handle between the support rod and the hook for transporting garments supported on the support rod by hangers and for engaging the hook with a support structure. An article transportation and storage device comprises an inverted U-shaped frame, a support rod slidably engageable with the frame, and a hook mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between extended and retracted positions. A garment receiving and supporting hanger is provided with an inflatable garment protection device that prevents wrinkling of garments supported by the hanger. A garment transportation and support device comprises opposed garment engaging arms that pivot outwardly to securely support a garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part application of application Ser.No. 11/368,873 filed Mar. 6, 2006, currently pending, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference; which claimspriority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/659,248filed Mar. 7, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes hanger comprising afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a variationof the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the clothes hanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the clothes hanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storagedevice comprising a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storagedevice comprising an alternative version of the third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view further illustrating the garmenttransportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a first orientation of the garmenttransportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating a secondorientation of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the garment transportation and storagedevice of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the garment transportation and storagedevice of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustrating a first utilization of thegarment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilisation of thegarment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a third utilization of thegarment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a clothes hanger comprising a fourthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the clothes hanger of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a garment transportation and storage devicecomprising a fifth embodiment of the invention in which the garmenttransportation and storage device is shown in its folded configuration;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the garment transportation and storage deviceof FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a first utilization of thegarment transportation and storage device of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilization of thegarment transportation and storage device of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, thereis shown a clothes hanger 10 comprising a first embodiment of theinvention. The clothes hanger 10 comprises a conventional clothes hanger12 including a length of wire 14 comprising an upper hook portion 16extending to a twisted portion 18 which in turn extends to a pair ofdownwardly and outwardly extending arms 20 terminating in supportmembers 22. A cardboard garment support tube 24 extends between thesupport members 22 and is supported thereby,

As is well known, utilization of the hanger 10 and similar clotheshangers in the transportation and storage of garments incorporatesinherent difficulties. First, the cardboard garment support tube 24defines a relatively small diameter garment support surface which tendsto form creases in garments supported thereon for even a short period oftime. Second, the cardboard garment support tube 24 is frequentlyprovided with a light adhesive coating which can damage delicate fabricsand can also damage more durable fabrics if supported on the clotheshanger 10 over an extended period of time.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention a softsponge rubber tube 26 is received on and supported by the cardboard tube24. The soft sponge rubber tube 26 substantially increases the effectivediameter of the garment support surface of the hanger 10 therebysubstantially decreasing the probability that garments supported thereonwill be creased. Additionally, the soft sponge rubber tube 26 does notrequire a light adhesive coating as does the cardboard tube 24 therebyeliminating the possibility of damage to garments supported on thehanger 10 due to contact thereof with the light adhesive coating whichis typically provided on the exterior surface on the cardboard tube 24.

For example, the cardboard garment support tube of a typical clotheshanger has an outside diameter of about ½ inch. The soft sponge rubbertube of the present invention has an outside diameter of about 1.25inches. Thus, the effective diameter of the garment support surface ofthe hanger of the present invention is 2½ times as large as theeffective diameter of the garment support surface of a conventionalclothes hanger.

The soft sponge rubber tube 26 is provided with a radial slit 28 whichextends the entire length of the tube 26 thereby facilitating deploymentof the tube 26 over the cardboard tube 24. The opposite ends of the slit28 comprising the tube 26 may be provided with, lengths of double sidedadhesive tape 30 whereby the ends of the slit are secured againstopening during utilization of the hanger 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a clothes hanger 40 comprising avariation of the clothes hanger 10 illustrated in the first sheet ofdrawings. Many of the component parts of the clothes hanger 40 aresubstantially identical in construction and function to component partsof the hanger 10. Such identical component parts are designated on thesecond sheet of drawings with the same reference numerals utilized abovein the description of the clothes hanger 10 but are differentiatedtherefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.

The clothes hanger 40 differs from the clothes hanger 10 in that ratherthan being provided with a soft sponge rubber tube surrounding thecardboard tube 24′, the clothes hanger 40 is provided with a tube 42comprising a roll of fabric secured in place by an adhesive layer 44.The function of the tube 42 is to substantially increase the effectivediameter of the clothing support surface of the hanger 40. In thismanner the likelihood that garments supported by the clothes hanger 40will be creased during utilization thereof is substantially reduced.Additiona1ly, the tube 42 does not require use of a light adhesivecoating as is frequently required in the use of the cardboard tube 24thereby further diminishing the possibility of damage to garmentssupported by the clothes hanger 40.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 there is shown a clothes hanger 50comprising a second embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 50comprises a plastic frame 52 having a metal hook 54 extending upwardlytherefrom. A metal support rod 56 extends between and is supported onthe opposite ends of the plastic frame 52. A pair of wings 58 aresupported on the support rod 56 for longitudinal movement therealong.Each wing 58 is provided with a spring loaded clip 60 which functions tosecure the wing at a predetermined location along the support rod 56depending upon the requirements of particular applications of theinvention.

Because the wings 58 are movable inwardly and outwardly on the rod 56,the hanger 50 is adapted for use with garments comprising a wide rangeof sizes, for example, from size 2 through and including size 20. Theinward and outward movement of the wings 53 allows the hanger 50 tosupport garments thereon with no tension or stretching.

In the utilisation of the hanger 50 the plastic wings 58 are movedoutwardly until the end surfaces 62 thereof engage interior surfaces ofa skirt, a pair of shorts, or other garment. In use, the wings 58function to secure a garment on the hanger 50 during transportation andstorage of the garment. More importantly, the wings 58 function toprevent damage to of the garment during transportation and supportthereof on the hanger 50. The use of the hanger 50 facilitates supportand transportation of garments with no marking, no clip mark, or otherdamage as is sometimes experienced in the use of conventional clotheshangers.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a garment transportation and storagedevice 70 comprising a third embodiment of the invention. The device 70comprises length of wire 72 which is formed into a support hook 74 atthe upper end thereof. The length of wire 72 extends downwardly from thehook 74 through a central portion 76. At the lower end of the device 70a length of wire 77 is bent into a triangular configuration 78 thusproviding a hanger support rod 80. The hook 74 is rotatably connected tothe support rod 80.

A ball-shaped handle 82 is secured around the central section 76 of thelength of wire 72, it being understood that other handle configurationscan he utilised in the practice of the invention. The handle 82 maycomprise a unitary construction formed from molded plastic or moldedrubber. Alternatively, the handle 82 may comprise a two partconstruction which snaps together around the central portion 72 of thelength of wire 72 as shown.

In use, the garment transportation and storage device 70 is employed toreceive garments from a laundry or dry cleaner. Garments supported onconventional hangers of the type utilized by laundries and dry cleanersare supported on the support rod 80 by engaging the nooks of the hangerstherewith in the conventional manner. After the hangers which supportall of the garments received from a particular laundry or dry cleanerare engaged with the support rod 80 the handle 82 is utilized totransport the device 70 and the garments supported thereby, for example,from the laundry or dry cleaners to a vehicle. At that point the hook 74of the device 70 is utilized to support the device 70 and the garmentssupported thereby from the coat hanger of the vehicle. Another importantuse of the device 70 is the transportation of garments supported onhangers from a laundry or dry cleaners to a residence in crowded urbanareas such as New York City.

Upon arrival at a particular designation the device 70 is utilized totransport the garments supported by the support rod 80 to a storagelocation, for example, a closet. Once again the handle is utilized tofacilitate lifting and carrying the garments supported on the supportrod 80. The hook 72 may be utilized to support the garments on a closetrod or the like while the garments are being individually disengagedfrom the support rod 80. Thereafter the garments are preferablydisengaged from the hangers utilized by the laundry or the dry cleanersto deliver garments to customers and are transferred to hangerscomprising the present invention, for example, the hangers shown inFIGS. 1 through 5, inclusive, hereof.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 16, inclusive, the present inventionfurther comprises an alternative version of the garment transportationand storage device 70 illustrated in FIG. 6 and described hereinabove inconjunction therewith. Referring to FIG. 7, an article transportationand storage device 86 comprises an inverted U-shaped frame 88 comprisingspaced apart downwardly extending legs and a handle extending betweenand connecting the legs. Aligned apertures 90 extend through the distalends of the legs. An article support rod 92 is slidably received in theapertures 90 for support by the frame 88. As is shown in FIG. 8 the rod92 is adapted for disengagement from the frame 88 to facilitate itsengagement with or disengagement from articles transported by thearticle transportation and storage device 86.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 13, inclusive, the frame 88 of the articletransportation and storage device 86 has a slot 94 formed in the upperportion thereof. A hook 96 is pivotally supported on the frame 88 andextends into the slot 94. Referring particularly to FIG. 9 the hook 96is adapted for pivotal movement relative to the frame 88 in the mannerindicated by the arrow 88. FIG. 10 shows the hook 96 in its fullyretracted orientation to facilitate use of the handle comprising theU-shaped frame 88 in the transportation of articles. FIG. 8 illustratesthe utilization of the hook 96 to support the article transportation andstorage device 86 and articles supported thereby from a closet rod CR orsimilar structure.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the article transportation and storagedevice 86 in the transportation of a plurality of hanger-borne clothesfrom a first location such as a retail store, a dry cleaner, a laundry,etc. to a second location such as a residence, an office, or otherlocation selected by the owner and user of the article transportationand storage device 86.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of the article storage and transportationdevice 86 in the transportation of articles other than clothing. Inparticular, FIG. 14 illustrates the support and transportation of a pairof plastic bags which in turn support and transport a plurality ofindividual articles. The disengageability of the support rod 92 from theframe 88 of the article transportation and storage device 86 isparticularly advantageous when engaging the device 86 with anddisengaging the device 86 from articles such as those illustrated inFIG. 14. FIG. 15 illustrates the article transportation and storagedevice 86 utilized to support a plurality of hanger-borne articles froma closet rod CR or other structure.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a clothes hanger 100 comprising a fourthembodiment of the invention. The upper portion of the clothes hanger 100comprises a conventional plastic clothes hanger 102 which includes aplastic frame 104, a metal hook 106 adapted to support the clotheshanger 100 on a closet rod and a metal clothing support rod 108extending between the opposed legs comprising the plastic frame 104.

An inflatable garment protecting device 110 is supported on the rod 108and is provided, with an inflation/deflation port 112 including astopper 114 adapted to retain the garment protection device 110 in itsinflated configuration.

As is well known garments supported from a hanger, such as the hanger102 illustrated in 16 and 17, for an extended period of time becomewrinkled and misshapened. In accordance with the present invention thegarment protection 110 is inflated by disengaging the stopper 114 andblowing through the port 112 until the garment protection device 110assumes the inflated the configuration illustrated in FIG. 17.Thereafter the stopper 114 is re-engaged with the port 112 to preventdeflation of the garment protection device 110.

When inflated the garment protection device 110 functions to expandgarments supported by the hanger 102. In this manner the garments areretained in an expanded condition which eliminates the problem ofgarments becoming wrinkled and misshapened when they are hung from aconventional hanger.

FIGS. 18 though 21, inclusive, illustrate a clothes hanger 120comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 120comprises a pair of opposed arms 122 and 124 having proximal ends thatare pivotally connected to one another at 126. The distal ends of thearms 122 and 124 are provided with garment engaging teeth 128. A metalsupport hook 130 extends to a connecting block 132. A pair of controlarms 134 and 136 are pivotally connected to the block 132 at 138 and arepivotally connected to the arms 122 and 124, respectively, at 140 and142, respectively.

FIG. 20 illustrates the garment transportation device 120 utilised tosupport and transport a garment G1 which may comprise a skirt or pair ofslacks. The teeth 128 of the garment transportation device 120 engagethe interior surfaces comprising the waist band WB of the garment G1. Aswill be appreciated by those skilled in the art the weight of thegarment G1 tends to pull the arms 122 at 124 downwardly. However,because the arms 122 and 124 are connected to the garment support member130 by the block 132 and the arms 134 and 136 any downward movement ofthe arms 122 and 144 causes outward movement of the distal ends thereofthereby forcing the teeth 128 into firm griping engagement with theinterior surface of the waistband WB of the garment G1. In this mannerthe garment G1 is firmly secured on the garment transportation device120 during both transportation and storage thereof.

FIG. 21 illustrates the garment transportation device 120 utilized totransport and support a garment G2 comprising a jacket or a dress. Onceagain, the weight of the G2 tends to pull the arms 122 and 124downwardly. However, because the arms 122 and 124 are secured to thegarment support member 130 by the block 132 and the arms 134 and 136 anydownward movement of the arms 122 and 124 caused by the weight ofgarment G2 causes the arms 122 and 124 to pivot outwardly therebysecurely retaining the garment G2 on the garment transportation device120.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. An article transportation and storage device comprising: an invertedU-shape frame comprising spaced apart downwardly extending legs and anupper handle extending between and supporting the legs; a pair ofaligned apertures extending through the distal ends of the legs forreceiving a support rod therein; a support rod slidably receivable inthe aligned apertures of the frame for securing articles to anddisengaging articles from the transportation and storage device; alongitudinally extending slot formed in the handle; a hook extendinginto the slot formed in the handle; means supporting the hook on thehandle for pivotal movement relative thereto between an extended portionwherein the handle is engageable with a closet rod or the like tosupport the article transportation and storage device and articlessecured thereto and a folded position wherein the hook is received inthe slot to facilitate use of the handle in the transportation andstorage of articles.
 2. For use in conjunction with a conventionalclothes hanger of the type comprising a nominally horizontally disposedgarment support rod, the improvement comprising: a pneumaticallyactivated flexible member supported on the support rod of the hanger andextending downwardly therefrom for expanding garments supported by thehanger and thereby preventing wrinkling of the garments.
 3. An articletransportation and storage device comprising: a pair of substantiallyhorizontally disposed opposed arms having pivotally connected proximalends extending in opposite directions; each of the opposed havinggarment engaging teeth at the distal end thereof; a normally verticallydisposed hook positioned above and substantially aligned with thepivotal connection between the opposed arms; and a lever systemconnected between the hook and the opposed arms for pivoting the armsupwardly and outwardly responsive to the application of weight thereto.